The Role of “English-Medium Schools” in India

The Role of “English-Medium Schools” in India

It is necessary to know about “English-medium schools” in India so that we can understand how English in India has been produced. “English-medium schools” are educational institutions where English is used as a medium of instruction. “English-medium schools” vary from school to school. Some have poor facilities and some are well equipped. Some English-medium boarding schools called “public schools” have deluxe facilities as well as well-trained/highly qualified

teachers and gather children only from the upper class families. Such “public schools” in India can be regarded as an imitation of public schools in Britain. At “English-medium schools”, all the subjects except Indian languages like Hindi are supposed to be taught through English. At boarding schools called “public schools”, students have to use English all day long. At some “public schools”, students are punished if they use their mother tongue.

Naturally, students become good at English simply because they are forcibly exposed to English and cannot help using it. Generally speaking, the higher the course is, the more frequently English is

used as a medium of instruction. Almost all colleges and universities in India prepare courses whose medium of instruction is English while most municipal elementary schools in India are supposed to use the regional language as a medium. However, there are such elementary schools and even kindergartens, mostly private, adopt English as the medium. In such schools and kindergartens, very small children with a still insufficient command of their own mother tongues are forced to use English. Consequently, not a few children feel English the most

comfortable.

 Consequently, some children speak English instead of their mother tongue even when they talk with their family at home. “English-medium schools” are virtually producing the elite of the country.

Naturally, those with upward mobility want to send their children to “English medium schools” as long as their finances allow. English, in many aspects, is one of the most important keys to make a success in life in India. Even though they forget their mother tongue as a result of learning at “English-medium schools”, they rush to such schools to receive education through English. Apart from whether it is right or wrong, English can be said to be the most important language to educated Indians and is indispensable to Indian society.